Matrix type display driving system

ABSTRACT

A driving system for matrix type display apparatus having picture elements arranged in a matrix form, each picture element being made up of a plurality of luminous elements of different brightness levels, in which one frame forming one picture is formed with a plurality of fields. Combinations of the luminous elements of adjacent picture elements are altered at every field, and the respective picture elements are scanned in the same manner as that of scanning in television, thus providing a display.

llite States atent [191 Owalri et al.

[111 3,843,959 [45] oct; 22, 1974 MATRIX TYPE DISPLAY DRIVING SYSTEMInventors: Kenichi Owaki; Norihiko Nakayama; Toshinori Urade, all ofKobe; Hiroshi Furuta, Akashi, all of Japan Assignee: Fujitsu Limited,Nakahara-ku,

Kawasaki, Japan Filed: June 21, 1973 Appl. No.1 372,044

Foreign Application Priority Data June 22, 1972 Japan 47-62766 US. Cl.358/59, 178/73 D Int. Cl. H04n 9/30 Field of Search l78/5.4 EL, 7.5 D,7.3 D, 178/54 R; 315/169 R; 313/108 B, 108 D; 340/1463 MA, 166 EL, 166C, 166 R; 358/59 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,790,8412/1974 Tsui 3l3/l08 Primary ExaminerRichard Murray Assistant Examiner-R.John Godfrey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Staas, Halsey & Gable 5 7]ABSTRACT 16 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures SHIFT REGISTER PATENTEB 0m 221974 sum 010% 10 V max Ex @QY E;

Pmzmmom 22 m4 SHEET FIG.

osur 1o FIELD I 84 RI I G4 BI R4 GI" B4 RI I w ELELBGJ R4 GI B2 G4 Bl R4GI B4 RI FIELD 2 R4 GI B4 RI R4 GI 94 I RI I62 BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a systemfor driving a display apparatus having luminous elements arranged in amatrix form, and more particularly to a scanning system for such anapparatus which provides for enhanced resolution in an image display.

2. Description of the Prior Art An existing display apparatus of thetype having luminous elements arrangedin a matrix form is such, forexample, as a plasma display panel in which first and second sets ofelectrodes are arranged to cross each other in adjacent but spacedrelation to each other, whereby discharge cells formed at theintersecting points of the electrodes serve as luminous elements. Insuch a plasma display panel, in order to obtain a display with halftones, picture elements are each formed with a plurality of dischargecells and the brightnesses of the discharge cells making up each pictureelement are selected different from each other. For exammple, in thecase of forming one picture element with four discharge cells, if theirbrightness levels are selected to be 1, 2, 4 and 8, a display with 16tone gradations can be achieved. The arrangement of these dischargecells is such, for example, as depicted in FIG. 1, in which dischargecells having a brightness level of l are formed at the intersectingpoints of electrodes Yll, Y2l, Yml with those X11, X21, Xnl; dischargecells having a brightness level of 2 are formed at the intersectingpoints of electrodes Yl2, Y22, Ym2 with those X11, X21, Xnl; anddischarge cells having brightness levels of 4 and 8 are formed in asimilar manner. An alternating sustain voltage is always impressed tothe electrodes X and Y, and a write or erase voltage is impressed toselected ones of the electrodes to display a character, a figure or thelike. The brightness levels of the discharge cells can be set at 1, 2, 4and 8 or other desired values as by providing, in front of the dischargecells, filters of different transmission factors, selecting the numbersof discharging of the cells within a unit time to be different from oneanother or coating phosphor on the cells and making the coated areas ortheir luminous efficiency to be different from one another.

Writing of a display content can be achieved by scanning the electrodesin a manner similar to that of scanning in television and, in this case,the interlace system can be employed. Namely, interlaced scanning oflines of picture elements is effected: for example, lines of the pictureelements A-l, A'-2, are scanned in a first field and those B'-1, B'-2,are scanned in a second field as indicated at the left-hand side ofFIG. 1. With the arrangement of FIG. 1, however, the number of theelectrodes Y necessary for displaying a TV picture by such scanning is1,024 to provide 512 scanning lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is to provide a novel drivingsystem for matrix type display apparatus in which a gradation display ora color gradation display is achieved and combinations of luminouselements making up individual picture elements are sequentially changedat every field to provide a display with high resolution.

' The driving system for matrix type display apparatus in which pictureelements are each formed with a plurality of luminous elements ofdifferent brightness levels and/or colors emitted therefrom and arearranged in a matrix form, is characterized in that one frameconstituting one picture is formed with a plurality of fields; and someof the luminous elements of adjacent picture elements are selectivelycombined into individual picture elements at every field.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram, for thecomparison of one example of a conventional driving system for a plasmadisplay panel having picture elements each formed with four dischargecells and one example of this invention system for such a plasma displaypanel;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the principal part of one example of thisinvention;

FIGS. 3A and B, 4, 5A and 5B, inclusive, are diagrams for explaining theoperation of other examples of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram, for explaining the discharge cell arrangement for acolor gradation display;

FIG. 7 shows a series of impression voltage waveforms in case of agradation display by changing the numbers of discharging of dischargecells within a unit time; FIG. 8 is a diagram, for explaining erasingand writing operations;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another example of this invention asbeing applied to a TV picture display;

FIG. 10 is a diagram, for explaining the electrode arrangement inanother example of this invention; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram, for explaining electrode connections.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1, oneexample of this invention for a gradation display will be described.With the interlace system in which one frame consists of two fields, inthe first field, electrodes are sequentially scanned in pairs withoutleaving any space for the second field, as indicated by A-l, A-2, at therighthand side of FIG. 1; and, in the second field, adjacent ones of theelectrodes scanned in the first field are sequentially scanned in pairsas indicated by B-l, B-2. Accordingly, in the first field, writescanning of the picture elements surrounded by dash-dot-dash lines iseffected and, in the second field, write scanning of the pictureelements surrounded by dotted lines is achieved. If the number ofhorizontal scanning lines is 512, the number of the electrodes necessaryfor such scanning system is 513, which is about one-half of thatrequired in the conventional system.

FIG. 2 illustrates the principal part of a circuit for performing suchscanning as described above. A horizontal synchronizing signal HS isapplied to an 8-bit counter l and its counted content is decoded'by adecoder 2. A video signal having its brightness level convertedinto a4-bit signal is applied to a shift register 3 which stores therein thosesignals of one horizontal line period. In FIG. 2, only the shiftregister 3 for one picture element is illustrated. A verticalsynchronizing signal is applied to a flip-flop circuit (not shown) toprovide field signals F1 and F2 corresponding to the first and secondfields respectively. The field signals F1 and F2 are supplied to an ANDgate group G1 together with the output from the decoder 2 and the ANDgate group G1 is further supplied with timing pulses t1 and t2.Reference characters G2 and G4 designate OR gate groups, DV and DV,,drivers, G3 an AND gate group, and Q1 and Q2 transistors, which supply asustain voltage Vs to the electrodes through a diode matrix.

For example, in the first field, the field signal F1 is applied to theAND gate group G1 and when an output 1 of the decoder 2 designating afirst scanning line has become I and the timing pulse t] has also becomeI, a voltage is impressed to the electrode Y11 from the driver DV,,. Atthis time, where the contents of the shift register 3 is 1, 4 and 8,upon application of the timing pulse :1 to the AND gate group Glsimultaneously with the application of a write timing pulse tw to theAND gate group G3, a voltage is impressed to the electrodes X11 and X12from the drivers DV to effect writing in the discharge cells atbrightness levels of 1 and 4. Then, when the timing pulse I2 is applied,a voltage is impressed to the electrode Y12 and if the contents of theshift register 3 are such as mentioned above, a voltage is impressed tothe electrode X12 to effect writing in the discharge cells at thebrightness level of 8. Thus, each picture element is at a brightnesslevel of 11.

Next, when an output (2) of the decoder 2 designating a second scanningfield has become I, voltages are impressed to the electrodes Y21 and Y22in accordance with the timing pulses t1 and 12 in the same manner asdescribed above. At that time, since the shift register 3 has storedtherein the 4-bit video signal for the next horizontal scanning lineperiod, writing is achieved in accordance with the stored contents.

In the second field, the field signal F2 is applied to the AND gategroup G1, so that once the output (1) of the decoder 2 has become I, avoltage is impressed to the electrode Y21 upon application of the timingpulse t1 and to the electrode Yl2 upon application of the timing pulse:2. Where the output (2) of the decoder 2 is l, a voltage is supplied tothe electrode Y3] (not shown) upon application of the timing pulse t1and to the electrode Y22 upon application of the timing pulse [2.

Consequently, in the first field, pairs of electrodes Yml and Ym2 (m l,2, 3, are sequentially scanned as indicated by A-l, A-2, and, in thesecond field, pairs of electrodes Ym2 and Y(m 1) are sequentiallyscanned as indicated by 8-1, 13-2, In the case of writing by suchscanning, it is a matter of course to erase a previous state byinserting an erasing pulse before scanning. When the scanning isstopped, the image at that time is displayed in a stationary condition.Namely, the plasma display panel has a memory function, so that if thescanning is stopped when a required image is being displayed, the imagecan be continuously displayed in a stationary condition withoutproviding any external buffer memory.

In the foregoing example, the picture elements are each formed with fourdischarge cells and interlaced scanning of the horizontal electrodes iscarried out, but interlaced scanning of the vertical electrodes is alsopossible. Namely, dot interlaced scanning is effected and FIG. 3 is adiagram for explaining it. FIG. 3A shows picture elements in the casewhere one frame consists of four fields, and FIG. 3B shows the order ofscanning of the picture elements on the transmitting side, numerals inbrackets indicating picture element numbers. A video signal fortransmission is produced by scanning picture elements of such numberswhose tenth and unit digits are both odd, that is, (11), (13), (15),(31), (33), in the first field, those of such numbers whose tenth andunit digits are even and odd respectively in the second field, those ofsuch numbers whose tenth and unit digits are odd and even respectivelyin the third field, and those of such numbers whose tenth and unitdigits are both even in the fourth field.

Upon reception of such a video signal transmitted, in the first andsecond fields, the picture elements are scanned without leaving anyinterlaced one as in the foregoing example. Namely, in the first field,the picture elements (11), (13), (15), (31), (33), (35),. are scanned asshown in the first field in FIG. 3A and, in the second field, thepicture elements (21), (23), (25), (41), (43), (45), are scanned asdepicted in the second field in FIG. 3A. In the next third and fourthfields, picture elements are each composed of two pairs of horizontallyadjoining discharge cells of the picture elements in the first andsecond fields, i.e. in the third field, picture elements (12), (16),.(32), (34), (36), are scanned and, in the fourth field, those (22),(24), (26), (42), (44), (46), are scanned. Thus, one frame is completed.

In the case where the scannning procedures on the transmitting sidecannot be altered as depicted in FIG. 38, that is, for example, in anexisting television transmission, it is possible to achieve suchscanning as described above by selecting the timing for reading out thecontent of the shift register on the receiving side. With such dotinterlaced scanning, it is possible to further enhance resolution evenwith less electrodes.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of this inventionapplied to a color gradation display. This is the case where eachpicture element is composed of red, blue and green discharge cell R, B,and G having brightness levels 1, 2 and 4 respectively. Referencecharacters R1, R2, R4, B1, B2, B4, G1, G2 and G4 designate red, blue andgreen discharge cells having the brightness levels corresponding totheir respective numerals. In such a plasma display panel, scanning bythe conventional sequential scanning system requires 1,536 horizontalelectrodes for 512 scanning lines but, in the case of one frameconsisting of three fields in accordance with the present invention, thenumber of electrodes required can be reduced down to the same as that ofscanning lines forming one frame. Namely, in the first field, triads ofhorizontal electrodes are sequentially scanned; in the second field,triads of horizontal electrodes excepting the uppermost one aresequentially scanned; and, in the third field, triads of horizontalelectrodes excepting the two upper ones are sequentially scanned, asclearly shown in FIG. 4. In this manner, scanning for one frame isachieved.

By the application of such divisional scanning to the verticalelectrodes, too, one frame is composed of nine fields, which enablesenhancement of resolution with a small number of electrodes.

In FIGS. 5A and 58, there is illustrated a modification of theabove-described one-frame-with-nine-fields scanning system, in which oneframe consists of four fields. FIG. 5A shows that, in the first andsecond fields,

the electrodes are scanned in such a form that one electrodecorresponding to picture elements surrounded by blocks 101 and 102 isinserted as an idle electrode between adjacent picture elementssurrounded by blocks 100 and 200. FIG. 5B shows that, in the third andfourth fields, the electrodes are scanned in such form that oneelectrode is inserted as an idle electrode between adjacent pictureelements surrounded by blocks 300 and 400 in the same manner asdescribed above. In this example, the number of the electrodes istwothirds of that used in the conventional sequential scanning systemand the brightness equivalent centers of gravity of the respectivepicture elements are arranged at regular intervals.

The driving method for the color gray scale display will hereinbelow bedescribed more in detail with reference to FIG. 6 and others subsequentthereto. FIG. 6 illustrates the construction of picture elements of aplasma display panel which employs matrix electrodes in combination withthe dot arrangement of FIG. 4. In FIG. 6, reference characters XAl, XBl,XCl, XA2, and YAI, YBI, YCl YA2, designate electrodes; R1, R2 and R4 reddischarge cells having a brightness ratio of, for example, 12:4; and B1,B2, B4, G1, G2 G4 blue and green discharge cells also having a similarbrightness ratio. Each broken-line block represents one picture element.The colors can be obtained by coating color emissive phosphors orproviding filters, and the brightness ratio can be obtained by selectingthe numbers of times of radiation of the cells within a unit timedifferent from one another or providing filters of differenttransmission factors. The brightnesses can also be made different fromone another by other means, for example, making the areas, thicknessesor luminous efficiencies of the phosphors coated different from oneanother. In the case of selecting the numbers of times of radiationdifferent from one another, as depicted in FIG. 7, by applying voltagesVA, VB, VC and VY to the electrodes XAI, XA2, X81, X82, XCl XC2, andYAl, YBl, YCl, YA2 respectively, the discharge cells R1, B1 and G1radiate once within a unit time T, the discharge cells G2, R2 and B2radiate twice and the discharge cells B4, G4 and R4 radiate four times,thus providing the brightness ratio of l:2:4. Accordingly, if onepicture element is made up of these nine discharge cells, a colordisplay of eight gradations can be provided by selective combinations ofthe discharge cells. Each discharge cell serves as one dot of onepicture element. If the kinds of colors of the dots is taken as n and ifthe number of gradations is taken as m, one picture element is formedwith an assembly of (m n)s dots. If the brightness ratio is selected tobe, for example, l:2:4:8 the content of one picture element is thecombination of 2'"" kinds. Usually, three kinds of colors: red R, GreenG and blue B, are the most effective and if the number of dots of thesame color is three, eight gradations can be obtained as describedabove.

In TV pictures'or the like, the number of gradations m is reguired to beabout 5 or 6, in which case, it is sufficient only to increase thenumber of dots making up one picture element. However, only an increasein the number of dots lowers resolution, so that it is necessary toreduce the pitch of the discharge cells, that is, the pitch of theelectrodes.

FIG. 8 is a diagram, for explaining a write operation in the plasmadisplay panel of the construction shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 8, referencecharacter VXA, VXB and VXC identify voltages for the impression to theelectrodes XAI, XA2, X81, X82, and XCl, XC2, respectively; VYA, VYB andYC voltages for the impression to the electrodes YAl, YA2, YBI, YB2, andYCI, YC2, respectively; PE an erasing pulse; and PW a write pulse. Theerasing pulse PE is simultaneously applied to all of the discharge cellsof one picture element to effect erasing at one time, but selectiveerasing of each discharge cell or every three discharge cell is alsopossible. However, this results in prolongation of the erasing time.Then, by simultaneous impression of the write pulse PW to the electrodesYAl and XAl, the discharge cell R1 is selected. Further, the impressionof the write pulse PW to the electrodes YBl and XBl leads to theselection of the discharge cell R2. Next, the impression of the writepulse PW to the electrodes YCl, XBl and XCl results in the selection ofthe electrodes B2 and R4. As a result of this, the discharge cells R1,R2, R4 and B2 of the picture element radiate in blue-red (purple) light.The above writing method is a parallel one, but it is also possible toeffect writing in each discharge cell. Further, by coating a dielectriclayer on the electrodes to provide a memory function as in the plasmadisplay panel, the discharge radiation by the cells is continued untilthe next selective erasing is achieved.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another example of this invention asbeing applied to a color television. The output from anintermediate-frequency amplifier 10 is detected by a detector circuit11, a Y signal derived therefrom is amplified by an amplifier l2 andapplied to a matrix circuit 17. A signal amplified by a carrierchrominance signal band amplifier 13 is demodulated by a demodulatorcircuit 15 into I and Q signals. In this case, a burst signal isseparated and amplified by a burst separator-amplifier 14 to control asubcarrier phase control oscillator 16, the output from which is appliedto the demodulator circuit 15 to achieve the demodulating operation. Thematrix circuit 17 reproduces red G, green G and blue B signals from theY, I

and Q signals fed thereto, and the red, green and blue.

signals R, G and B are applied to decoders 18A, 18B and 18C respectivelyto provide decoded outputs of the brightness levels 1, 2 and 4 for eachcolor. A shift register 19A is supplied with the outputs (1), (2) and(4) derived from the decoders 18A, 18B and 18C respectively; a shiftregister 19B is supplied with the outputs (2), (4) and (1) from thedecoders 18A, 18B and 18C respectively; and a shift register 19C issupplied with the outputs (4), (1) and (2) from the decoders 18A, 18Band 18C respectively, thus storing a signal corresponding to onescanning line. During the horizontal blanking period, the contents ofthe shift registers 19A, 19B and 19C are transferred to hold registers20A, 20B and 20C respectively. In accordance with the content of thehold register 20A, writing is effected by a gate signal g in theelectrodes XAl, XBl, XCl, XA2, and, in this case, a write pulse isimpressed by the gate signal g, to the electrode YAl. Since one scanningline corresponds to a triad of the electrodes YAl, YBl and YCI,information one-third that of one scanning line is written in parallel.Then, gate signals g and g, are sequentially applied to achieve writingas described above and writing for one scanning line is completed byeffecting the writing operation three times. Erasing is carried outbefore such writing and since the shift re gisters 19A, 19B and 19C areinoperative during the horizontal blanking period, it is also possibleto dispense with the hold registers. For storing information of onescanning line, the capacity of each shift register becomes inevitablylarge but the capacity of the shift register can be reduced by dividingone scanning line into a plurality of segments and writing theinformation of each segment immediately after it is stored in the shiftregister, that is, by writing the information a plurality of times forone scanning line. Further, various systems can be considered for theinterlaced scanning and color television can be realized.

In the example of FIG. 6, dots of higher brightness are arranged in avertical direction, so that streaks sometimes become noticeable in thevertical direction. This can be avoided by disposing the verticalelectrodes XAl, XBl, XCl, XA2, inclined at 45 to the horizontal onesYAl, YBl, YCl, YA2, as depicted in FIG. 10. In this case, since theelectrodes except one on the diagonal are divided into two groups, theyare interconnected as shown in FIG. 11 and these connections may beformed on the panel simultaneously with the formation of the electrodesor may be formed at projecting portions of the electrodes from thepanel.

In the present example, the electrode lead-out position is shifted oneby one at every three writing operations for red, green and blue colors,so that the content of each register is shifted to the right at everywriting.

As described above, in this example, a gradation color display caneasily be achieved, so that characters, figures, TV pictures and so oncan be displayed. Further an image display with high resolution can beachieved by making up one frame with a plurality of fields and alteringthe combinations of discharge cells of adjacent picture elements atevery scanning of each field, as described previously.

Although this invention has been described in connection with the casewhere discharge cells are employed as luminous elements, the inventionis applicable to the case where luminous elements such as luminescentdiodes or the like are arranged in a matrix form. Further, bytransmitting the brightness levels as PCM signals in the form of pictureelement signal arrangement from the transmitting side for interlaced ordot interlaced scanning, an image display on the display apparatus canbe achieved with much ease and a gradation display with high resolutioncan be produced by the use of a small number of electrodes. In the caseof conventional transmission signals, the scanning system of each of theforegoing examples can be practised by selecting the timing for readingout memories on the receiving side.

With the present invention, as described in the foregoing, in the caseof achieving a gradation display and a color gradation display by theemployment of the scanning system, one frame is formed with a pluralityof fields and some of luminous elements of adjacent picture elements areselectively combined together and scanned as one picture element foreach field, so that the number of electrodes used can be reduced.Therefore, the display apparatus can be made small in size and thepicture element pitch can also be reduced, and hence resolution can beenhanced.

This invention is not limited specifically to the foregoing examples butmay be variously modified and varied within the scope of the conceptsdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A display system comprising:

a. display device including a plurality of first and second radiationelements for emitting first and second kinds of radiation respectively,said plurality of radiation elements disposed in a matrix of rows andcolumns so that said first radiation elements are separated from eachother along said columns and rows;

b. energizing means for providing energizing signals to be applied tosaid radiation elements; and

c. control means for applying first the energizing signals to a firstfield of picture elements, each comprising at least one first radiationelement and one second radiation element, and thereafter applying theenergizing signals to a second field of different picture elements, eachcomprised of said one second radiation element and another firstradiation element.

2. The display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said firstradiation elements emit a relatively high intensity radiation and saidsecond radiation elements emit a relatively low intensity radiation.

3. The display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said firstradiation elements emit radiation of a first wavelength and said secondradiation elements emit radiation of a second, different wavelength.

4. The display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display deviceincludes third and fourth radiation elements, said first and secondradiation elements emitting radiation of a first color of a first and asecond in- I tensity level, respectively, said third and fourthradiation elements emitting radiation of a second, different color ofsaid first and second intensity levels, respectively.

5. The display system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control meansincludes a color control circuit responsive to an input informationsignal for providing first and second color signals indicative of thefirst and second colors, respectively; first and second decoder circuitsresponsive respectively to the first and second color signals for eachproviding outputs indicative of said first and second intensity levelsof its respective color; and first and second memory means, said firstmemory means responsive to said first output of said first decodercircuit and said second output of said second decoder circuit forstoring signals indicative of intensity level and color for at least aportion of the picture elements of a first row, said second memory meansresponsive to the second output of said first decoder and said firstoutput of said second decoder for storing the energizing signalsindicative of the color and intensity level for at least a portion ofthe picture elements of a second row adjacent to said first row.

6. The display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display deviceincludes third and forth radiation elements for emitting, respectively,third and fourth kinds of radiation, said first and second radiationelements being arranged alternately along a first column, said third andfourth radiation elements being arranged alternately along a secondcolumn adjacent to said first column, said control means comprising rowcontrol means responsive to a first field signal for selectivelyapplying the energizing signals to a first and a second row of saidradiation elements comprising a single row of said picture elements, andresponsive to a second field signal for applying the energizing signalto said second row of radiation elements and a third row of radiationelements adjacent to said second row.

7. The display system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said energizingmeans is responsive to a video input signal to provide first, second,third and fourth outputs corresponding to the information contained bysaid video signal for energizing, respectively, said first, second,third and fourth radiation elements, said control means including firstand second switch means associated, respectively, with said first andsecond columns of said display device, said first switch meansresponsive to first and second timing signals for applying respectivelysaid first and second outputs to said first column, said second switchmeans responsive to said first and second timing signals for applyingsaid third and fourth outputs, respectively, to said second column.

8. The display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display devicecomprises a plasma display'panel including a plurality of X electrodesand a plurality of Y electrodes disposed to intersect each other, and adischarge gas disposed therebetween, whereby a plurality of saidradiation emitting elements is formed at the intersecting points of saidX and Y electrodes.

9. The display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rows ofradiation elements are disposed at approximately 45 with respect to saidcolumns of said radiation elements.

10. A method of energizing display apparatus comprised of a plurality offirst and second radiation elements for emitting, respectively, firstand second kinds of radiation, the plurality of radiation elementsdisposed in a matrix of rows and columns so that the first and secondradiation elements are separated from each other along said columns androws, said method comprising the steps of:

a. energizing a first field of picture elements, each comprised of oneof the first radiation elements and one of the second radiationelements, and

b. energizing a second field of different picture elements, eachcomprised of the one first element and another of the second radiationelements.

ill. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein in step (a), the onefirst radiation element and the one second radiation element aredisposed respectively upon first and second rows adjacent to each other,and in step (b), the another second radiation element is disposed upon athird row adjacent to the second row, whereby said first and secondfields are interlaced with each other.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display apparatusincludes first, second, third and fourth radiation elements for emittingdifferent kinds of radiation, the first and second radiation elementsarranged alternately in each of the first and third columns of thedisplay apparatus, the third and fourth radiation elements disposedalternately in a second column intermediate to the first and thirdcolumns, wherein said step (a) includes forming the first field of atleast one picture element comprised of the first, second, third andfourth radiation elements disposed in the first and second columns androws of the display apparatus, said step (b) includes the forming of thesecond field of a second, different picture element comprised of thefirst, second, third and fourth radiation elements disposed in the firstand second columns of the second and third rows of the display device,and thereafter forming a third field comprised of at least one thirdpicture element comprising the first, second, third and fourth radiationelements disposedin the second and third columns of the first and secondrows, and thereafter forming a fourth field comprised of at least onefourth picture element comprising first, second, third and fourthradiation elements disposed in the second and third rows and columns ofthe display apparatus.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display apparatusincludes third and fourth radiation elements for emitting, respectively,radiation of a second wavelength of first and second low intensitylevels, the first and second radiation elements emitting respectively,radiation of a first wavelength of the first and second intensitylevels, wherein said step (a) includes the forming of picture elementscomprised of the first, second, third and fourth radiation elements withat least one idle row and column formed therebetween; said step (b)includes the forming the second field of picture elements of the first,second, third and fourth radiation elements selected from a row of thefirst picture element and the adjacent idle row; and further includingthe steps of energizing the radiation elements to form a third fieldwherein a third picture element is formed of the first, second, thirdand fourth radiation elements selected from a column of the firstpicture element and the adjacent idle column; and energizing theradiation elements selectively to form a fourth field of fourth pictureelements comprised of selected first, second, third and fourth radiationelements selected in part from the idle row and column associated withthe.

first picture element.

14. A color picture display system comprising:

a matrix type display apparatus having arrays of picture elements, eacharray composed of a plurality of luminous elements of different colorsand brightness levels; and

means for selectively controlling the energization of each of saidplurality of luminous elements of each picture element to on" and offstates in accordance with color and luminance signals applied to thepicture element, the on luminous elements, in combination, providing adisplay of color picture information of the picture element and thepicture elements, in combination, providing a display of a color pictureof one frame.

15. A color picture display system according to claim 14, in which saidmatrix type display apparatus is a plasma display panel having first andsecond sets of electrodes disposed in intersecting relationship anddefining discharge cells at the said intersections of said electrodessaid discharge cells serving as said luminous elements, each pictureelement being composed of nine discharge cells defined by theintersections of three adjacent electrodes of each of said first andsecond sets, and

said energizing means comprises means for applying different electricsignals to said electrodes of said first set of each picture element tocause the discharge cells associated with a given electrode of saidfirst set to discharge at a frequency different from said cellsassociated with the other electrodes of said first set, thereby to causethe three discharge cells associated with each electrode of said firstset to emit respectively different colors.

16. A color picture display system according to claim 15, wherein saidfirst and second sets of electrodes are disposed in inclinedrelationship with respect to each other. i

1. A display system comprising: a. display device including a pluralityof first and second radiation elements for emitting first and secondkinds of radiation respectively, said plurality of radiation elementsdisposed in a matrix of rows and columns so that said first radiationelements are separated from each other along said columns and rows; b.energizing means for providing energizing signals to be applied to saidradiation elements; and c. control means for applying first theenergizing signals to a first field of picture elements, each comprisingat least one first radiation element and one second radiation element,and thereafter applying the energizing signals to a second field ofdifferent picture elements, each comprised of said one second radiationelement and another first radiation element.
 2. The display system asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said first radiation elements emit arelatively high intensity radiation and said second radiation elementsemit a relatively low intensity radiation.
 3. The display system asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said first radiation elements emit radiationof a first wavelength and said second radiation elements emit radiationof a second, different wavelength.
 4. The display system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said display device includes third and fourth radiationelements, said first and second radiation elements emitting radiation ofa first color of a first and a second intensity level, respectively,said third and fourth radiation elements emitting radiation of a second,different color of said first and second intensity levels, respectively.5. The display system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control meansincludes a color control circuit responsive to an input informationsignal for providing first and second color signals indicative of thefirst and second colors, respectively; first and second decOder circuitsresponsive respectively to the first and second color signals for eachproviding outputs indicative of said first and second intensity levelsof its respective color; and first and second memory means, said firstmemory means responsive to said first output of said first decodercircuit and said second output of said second decoder circuit forstoring signals indicative of intensity level and color for at least aportion of the picture elements of a first row, said second memory meansresponsive to the second output of said first decoder and said firstoutput of said second decoder for storing the energizing signalsindicative of the color and intensity level for at least a portion ofthe picture elements of a second row adjacent to said first row.
 6. Thedisplay system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display deviceincludes third and forth radiation elements for emitting, respectively,third and fourth kinds of radiation, said first and second radiationelements being arranged alternately along a first column, said third andfourth radiation elements being arranged alternately along a secondcolumn adjacent to said first column, said control means comprising rowcontrol means responsive to a first field signal for selectivelyapplying the energizing signals to a first and a second row of saidradiation elements comprising a single row of said picture elements, andresponsive to a second field signal for applying the energizing signalto said second row of radiation elements and a third row of radiationelements adjacent to said second row.
 7. The display system as claimedin claim 6, wherein said energizing means is responsive to a video inputsignal to provide first, second, third and fourth outputs correspondingto the information contained by said video signal for energizing,respectively, said first, second, third and fourth radiation elements,said control means including first and second switch means associated,respectively, with said first and second columns of said display device,said first switch means responsive to first and second timing signalsfor applying respectively said first and second outputs to said firstcolumn, said second switch means responsive to said first and secondtiming signals for applying said third and fourth outputs, respectively,to said second column.
 8. The display system as claimed in claim 1,wherein said display device comprises a plasma display panel including aplurality of X electrodes and a plurality of Y electrodes disposed tointersect each other, and a discharge gas disposed therebetween, wherebya plurality of said radiation emitting elements is formed at theintersecting points of said X and Y electrodes.
 9. The display system asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said rows of radiation elements are disposedat approximately 45* with respect to said columns of said radiationelements.
 10. A method of energizing display apparatus comprised of aplurality of first and second radiation elements for emitting,respectively, first and second kinds of radiation, the plurality ofradiation elements disposed in a matrix of rows and columns so that thefirst and second radiation elements are separated from each other alongsaid columns and rows, said method comprising the steps of: a.energizing a first field of picture elements, each comprised of one ofthe first radiation elements and one of the second radiation elements,and b. energizing a second field of different picture elements, eachcomprised of the one first element and another of the second radiationelements.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein in step (a),the one first radiation element and the one second radiation element aredisposed respectively upon first and second rows adjacent to each other,and in step (b), the another second radiation element is disposed upon athird row adjacent to the second row, whereby said first and secondfields are interlaced with each other.
 12. The method as claimeD inclaim 10, wherein the display apparatus includes first, second, thirdand fourth radiation elements for emitting different kinds of radiation,the first and second radiation elements arranged alternately in each ofthe first and third columns of the display apparatus, the third andfourth radiation elements disposed alternately in a second columnintermediate to the first and third columns, wherein said step (a)includes forming the first field of at least one picture elementcomprised of the first, second, third and fourth radiation elementsdisposed in the first and second columns and rows of the displayapparatus, said step (b) includes the forming of the second field of asecond, different picture element comprised of the first, second, thirdand fourth radiation elements disposed in the first and second columnsof the second and third rows of the display device, and thereafterforming a third field comprised of at least one third picture elementcomprising the first, second, third and fourth radiation elementsdisposed in the second and third columns of the first and second rows,and thereafter forming a fourth field comprised of at least one fourthpicture element comprising first, second, third and fourth radiationelements disposed in the second and third rows and columns of thedisplay apparatus.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein thedisplay apparatus includes third and fourth radiation elements foremitting, respectively, radiation of a second wavelength of first andsecond low intensity levels, the first and second radiation elementsemitting respectively, radiation of a first wavelength of the first andsecond intensity levels, wherein said step (a) includes the forming ofpicture elements comprised of the first, second, third and fourthradiation elements with at least one idle row and column formedtherebetween; said step (b) includes the forming the second field ofpicture elements of the first, second, third and fourth radiationelements selected from a row of the first picture element and theadjacent idle row; and further including the steps of energizing theradiation elements to form a third field wherein a third picture elementis formed of the first, second, third and fourth radiation elementsselected from a column of the first picture element and the adjacentidle column; and energizing the radiation elements selectively to form afourth field of fourth picture elements comprised of selected first,second, third and fourth radiation elements selected in part from theidle row and column associated with the first picture element.
 14. Acolor picture display system comprising: a matrix type display apparatushaving arrays of picture elements, each array composed of a plurality ofluminous elements of different colors and brightness levels; and meansfor selectively controlling the energization of each of said pluralityof luminous elements of each picture element to ''''on'''' and''''off'''' states in accordance with color and luminance signalsapplied to the picture element, the ''''on'''' luminous elements, incombination, providing a display of color picture information of thepicture element and the picture elements, in combination, providing adisplay of a color picture of one frame.
 15. A color picture displaysystem according to claim 14, in which said matrix type displayapparatus is a plasma display panel having first and second sets ofelectrodes disposed in intersecting relationship and defining dischargecells at the said intersections of said electrodes said discharge cellsserving as said luminous elements, each picture element being composedof nine discharge cells defined by the intersections of three adjacentelectrodes of each of said first and second sets, and said energizingmeans comprises means for applying different electric signals to saidelectrodes of said first set of each picture element to cause thedischarge cells associated with a given electrode of said first set todischarGe at a frequency different from said cells associated with theother electrodes of said first set, thereby to cause the three dischargecells associated with each electrode of said first set to emitrespectively different colors.
 16. A color picture display systemaccording to claim 15, wherein said first and second sets of electrodesare disposed in inclined relationship with respect to each other.